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Yamaha Sets Course to Educate Watercraft Owners

9 February 1998

Yamaha Sets Course to Educate Watercraft Owners

   Yamaha WaveRunner(R) Watercraft Owners Can Receive Coast Guard-Approved
     Training and Enroll in Exclusive Owners' Club in One Hour from Home

    CYPRESS, Calif., Feb. 9 -- A new boating education program
offered by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA and the United Safe Boating Institute
will bring U.S. Coast Guard-approved instruction to the homes of thousands of
personal watercraft owners.
    The certification program, developed through Yamaha's GET W.E.T.
(Watercraft Education and Training) initiative and the United Safe Boating
Institute will allow Yamaha watercraft owners to review a short videotape
presentation and booklet from home and pass a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
certification test by calling a toll free phone number.  Yamaha plans to have
the program up and running by March 1.
    In all, the entire process, which is offered at no cost to Yamaha
watercraft owners, takes about one hour from start to finish.  New Yamaha
customers will receive the instructional materials at the time of purchase.
Current Yamaha owners can receive the materials from their local Yamaha
watercraft dealer.
    Those owners who successfully pass the certification process will be
automatically enrolled in Yamaha's exclusive Club Wave Owners' Club.  Members
will receive a USBI certificate, Club Wave membership card, insurance savings
and a list of club benefits that includes special discounts on selected Yamaha
watercraft accessories during the year.  Yamaha's Club Wave is the first and
only owners' club in the marine industry to require the successful completion
of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved boating education course as a pre-requisite for
membership.
    "Riding personal watercraft is fun.  Providing fundamental boating
education in a manner that will reach more personal watercraft users will only
make the entire experience better for everyone including those enjoying the
water around us," said Yamaha Watercraft Group Vice President Mark Speaks.
"Better yet, this program can be shared with family members and friends."
    The certificate offered to Yamaha owners is based on the same test given
to students attending more conventional courses provided by the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary.  Still, Yamaha strongly encourages their owners to get more
advanced training from the Coast Guard Auxiliary when available, according to
Speaks.
    "Boating is a great recreation when operators take the time to know their
craft, use good judgment and operate within the rules," said Speaks.
"Education provides the basis for making sound decisions."
    The USBI is an association dedicated to providing boating education to the
public.  Members include the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the American Red
Cross, the U.S. Power Squadron, the U.S. Sailing Association and the Canadian
Power & Sail Squadron.

SOURCE  Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA